Producer responsibility: A simple recipe for reducing waste

Our economy generates a lot of waste, largely because manufacturers profit by encouraging us to keep buying disposable and short-lived products. This video by Eli Pollak explains how producer responsibility is a system that works for everyone—including the planet!

Waste Video from Eli Pollak on Vimeo.

About CRI

The Container Recycling Institute is a non-profit organization that studies and promotes policies and programs that increase recovery and recycling of beverage containers. We focus on programs that shift the social and environmental costs associated with manufacturing, recycling, and disposal of container and packaging waste from government and taxpayers to producers and consumers.

Our website has a wealth of information on the recycling of plastic, glass, and aluminum beverage containers.

For information about beverage container deposit laws, please visit our Bottle Bill Resource Guide at www.bottlebill.org.

Recent...

Which beverage package material is greenest?

Explore industry-sponsored life cycle analyses on the environmental impacts of materials used in beverage packaging: single-use plastic, postconsumer recycled plastic, glass, and aluminum cans.

“Mend, Don't End” Delaware’s Container Deposit Law

A Delaware bill to improve recycling entails replacing Delaware's existing refundable beverage container deposit with a nonrefundable fee. Read the press release in opposition of the plan, which will ultimately put a burden on taxpayers and consumers.

New CRI report analyzes the effects of single-stream recycling

Using data from industry reports and interviews with recyclers, CRI has produced "Understanding economic and environmental impacts of single-stream collection systems," [PDF,1.4Mb] a report that highlights the economic and environmental impacts of switching to a single-stream system.

Useful Tools

Recycling Statistics

This site features an abundance of new and updated graphs on recycling, wasting, sales, and consumption of all sorts of packaged beverages. Click on "Facts and Statistics" to get started!

Beverage Market Data Analysis

Categorized by beverage type and package type, and loaded with economic and environmental extras, this user-friendly data set can help you quickly discover statistical facts about the beverage market and recycling in the region of your choice.

Bottle Bill Resource Guide

Container deposit laws are proven to be one of the most effective incentives for recycling.  Learn more on our sister site, www.bottlebill.org.

Bottle Bill Toolkit

Want to advocate for a bottle bill yourself?  Get the facts and the tips you need to get started at toolkit.bottlebill.org.